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I think the title tells you what I’m after. Anybody have any experience with this? I know you can get transformers for hairdriers etc at travel stores. Are those adequate?
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http://www.travel-accessories.com/store/electric.htm
*http://www.voltageconverters.com/voltage_converters.html
*The only hair dryers/etc that didn't burn out after a few trips over with the adapter sets....to the UK.....were the ones we finally broke down and bought over there! I definitely wouldn't trust a tool to a travel pack meant for hairdryers....and I personally wouldn't trust anything to keep from ruining my tools. If there is anything....it's gotta be more complicated than the travel packs. Jeff
*Buck, I agree. I have worked in South Africa and Israel, using 220 volt 50 Hz tools, and brought them with me to Canada when I came back to live. I still use the belt sander and plane with a transformer.Packing is difficult, but I have traveled back and forth without too much trouble. The weight of the transformer is the biggest problem, though. You cannot use a light weight transformer with power tools.If your trip is to be a short one, Dave, I might find out if there is a tool rental place close by. It will be cheaper. If your trip is to be a long one, consider buying new 220V tools there. Bosch is the most popular in most of the 220 volt world. One other thing, is that if you travel with tools, local customs and immigration may check you out for work permits and the like - just like American customs check me out when they see the "Aaron's Handyman" sign on the side of my (pasenger) Safari van.
*If you decide to take your tools,make sure you get hold of a big enough transformer. To tell how big you need, look at all your power tools data plates. They should have a power rating in either watts, or amps. In the UK they sold transformers by thier wattage. If you don't know the wattage just multiply volts (110/120) by amps and you get your watts. Buy a transformer that has at least 10% more watts than your hungriest tool. They use that 10% to operate. Another thing to consider is your cordless tools. For some reason some one or two of mine (household style) wouldn't charge unless they were on the biggest transformer I had. Good Luck.
*You need more than 10% extra capacity. I would want 50% or 100% more. Have you ever seen a portable tool rated at more than 15 amps? A wormdrive saw is rated at 15 amps because that is the max allowed on a portable appliance. Get one hung up and they can pull way more. Also the amps are not rated for starting current. A tool generally takes more power to start than when it's running. You will experience a voltage drop as you near the rated wattage of the transformer, so at 90% you would be getting lower line voltage than at 50%. Remember that motors are inductive loads and have a power factor that may be less than 1. This means the KVA and KW are not equal and might cause a problem.
*DaveOver here in the UK,we have to use 110v tools on site, as such I have to carry a large yellow transformer rated at 3.3 kva, this is enough to turn a 2hp compressor, or a contractor saw table. these are available all over the UK at any tool supply house or hire shop, You can buy them for around $120. Change the plugs on your tools and away you go
*Thanks for all the replies,huge helpDave
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I think the title tells you what I'm after. Anybody have any experience with this? I know you can get transformers for hairdriers etc at travel stores. Are those adequate?